George William Gray CBE MRIA FRSE. 4 September 1926 — 12 May 2013

Abstract

George Gray was a renowned British materials chemist, internationally distinguished for his research into liquid crystals and their applications in flat-panel displays. His seminal invention of the liquid-crystalline cyanobiphenyls underpinned the creation of the modern electronic displays industry, which began with digital watches and has continued through to smart and three-dimensional televisions. There are now more liquid crystal displays in the world than people, and these devices have engendered societal changes through social networking on the Internet. His ability to design, synthesize and utilize self-organizing materials across the various disciplines of science showed that he was a supreme molecular engineer. For his contributions to soft-matter and related advanced technologies he was made a Commander of the British Empire, Kyoto Prize laureate, Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Honorary Member of the Royal Irish Academy.